What do I do if my ball might be lost or out of bounds?

Question

Accepted Answer

Lost or out of bounds = stroke and distance (Rule 18.2b). Add one penalty stroke and play again from where you made your previous stroke. Lost: not found within 3 minutes of starting to search (Rule 18.2a). Out of bounds: only when the whole ball is outside the boundary edge. If any part is inside, it's in bounds. Save time with a provisional ball (Rule 18.3): Allowed when your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. You must announce it before you play, using the word "provisional" or otherwise making it clear. "I'll play another one" isn't enough; without a proper announcement the second ball becomes your ball in play under stroke and distance. You can keep playing the provisional until you reach the area where the original ball is likely to be. What happens next: Situation Result Original found in bounds, outside a penalty area, within 3 minutes Abandon the provisional and play the original Original is lost (not in a penalty area) or out of bounds Provisional becomes your ball in play (with the 1-stroke penalty) You play the provisional from nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be Provisional becomes your ball in play Original is known or virtually certain to be in a penalty area Abandon the provisional and play under Rule 17 Strokes with an abandoned provisional don't count.

Situation	Result
Original found in bounds, outside a penalty area, within 3 minutes	Abandon the provisional and play the original
Original is lost (not in a penalty area) or out of bounds	Provisional becomes your ball in play (with the 1-stroke penalty)
You play the provisional from nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be	Provisional becomes your ball in play
Original is known or virtually certain to be in a penalty area	Abandon the provisional and play under Rule 17